Deep Purple Biography

Deep Purple is currently enclosing the members Ian Paice, Roger Glover, Ian Gillan, Steve Morse, and Don Airey. They changed their band composition numerous times. The first three members were Jon Lord, Ritchie Blackmore, Nick Simper, quickly joined by Rod Evans and Ian Paice.

Early Years

Both the debut album Shades of Deep Purple (1968) and the follow-up one The Book of Taliesyn (1968) had a specific cover song that propelled the band on the charts. The original line-up released one more album, Deep Purple (1969).

With Evans and Simper replaced by Ian Gillan and respectively, Roger Glover, Deep Purple issued the legendary album In Rock in 1970. This one contains the iconic song “Child in Time”. The breakthrough was there for the English band. Their next albums Fireball (1971), Machine Head (1972) and Who Do We Think We Are (1973) spawned songs that would reverberate through time.

Fame & Issues

After the ’73 album, the band needed replacements for the lead vocalist and bassist, so they took in Glenn Hughes for the latter position and David Coverdale for the former one. Burn (1973) was also a hit album. The next album Stormbringer (1974) created issues within the band. Blackmore didn’t like the sound they went for and departed, creating a band that would later be titled Rainbow.

With an even newer sound for Deep Purple came the album Come Taste the Band (1975). Tommy Bolin played the guitar on this one. Deep Purple disbanded in 1976 due to continuous issues and tiredness. Bolin died in the same year by drug intoxication.

Getting Back At It

The band reunited in 1984 with the lineup of Gillan, Lord, Blackmore, Glover and Paice. They issued the album Perfect Strangers (1984). The band continued recording and touring until another change of the group’s composure occurred. Gillan was fired and replaced by Joe Lynn Turner. He lasted only one album and Gillan was brought back. Problems erupted again between Gillan and Blackmore, the latter leaving the band definitively in 1993.

Working relentlessly, Deep Purple continued to record albums and tour. Their album Infinite was released on 7 April 2017. They also announced The Long Goodbye Tour, which will support the album.

Photo Source: Discogs